Greetings! 

Spring is here in full force and our sales yard is filled with incredible plants.  There are great conifers, ginkgos and beeches, and some new Weeping Goat Willows (Salix caprea 'Pendula'). Our maple house is packed full with upright and weeping forms, both green and red.

A profusion of Japanese maples

 

Come out and walk the nursery and find something for your garden.  If you're looking for help in selecting and siting plants, bring photos of the area.  You're welcome to call 815-338-7442 and set up an appointment.

Hundreds of varieties of Hosta available, $5 and up.  All proceeds benefit  Heifer International  

and  Mano a Mano International Partners.   

Cash or check only.    

9am-4pm  The Hosta Sale to benefit Heifer International

9am-4pm  The Arts & Crafts Fundraiser to benefit Mano a Mano International Partners

10am-12pm  Hosta Leaf Identification with Tom Michiletti 

12:30pm  Mano a Mano Presentation

12:45pm  Heifer International Presentation

1pm  Hostas: Q&A Session with Tom Michiletti 

Heifer International (HI) is a non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to ending world hunger and poverty, and caring for the earth. HI provides livestock, trees, training, and other resources to help struggling families build sustainable futures.  The recipients of the animals must "pass on the gift" of the first female offspring and training in environmentally sound agriculture to another family in need.  In this manner, an endless cycle of transformation is set in motion as recipients become equal partners in ending poverty and hunger.

Mano a Mano International works in rural Bolivia building clinics, schools, roads, and irrigation projects, and provides airplanes for medical emergencies.  Rich and Susan visited these projects on their recent trip to Bolivia.  95% of funds collected are spent on projects.   

Rich Eyre worked with Heifer International in the Peace Corps 43 years ago in Bolivia and he can give testimony to its positive effects in those communities. In 1968, Rich worked in Bolivia with Joan Velasquez as a Peace Corps volunteer. She and her husband Segundo began Mano a Mano International 17 years ago to assist rural Bolivians with health care, economic development, and education. For her work, Joan received the Sargent Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service 2008 for continued work by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers.